HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Universal’s continuation of its near-$1 billion grossing Jason Bourne franchise, “The Bourne Legacy,” grossed an estimated $40.3 million domestically, with an additional $7.8 million from just 13 smaller day-and-date overseas territories. Pic’s worldwide debut equaled $48.1 million.

The series’ fourth installment — and first to feature Jeremy Renner, instead of franchise mainstay Matt Damon — scored squarely in line with industry expectations and should translate to a healthy global run as it expands internationally into the fall.

“Bourne” easily unseated reigning champ “The Dark Knight Rises,” which fell 45% in its fourth frame for an estimated weekend gross of $19.5 million. The Warner Bros. blockbuster also was handily outdone by the studio’s $50 million-plus new entry, “The Campaign,” which landed at the high-end of expectations with an estimated $27.4 million.

Also getting off to a good start, the Meryl Streep-Tommy Lee Jones adult counterprogrammer “Hope Springs” collected $15.6 million in three days. Sony, which jointly acquired domestic distribution rights with MGM to the pic costing in the mid-teens, launched “Springs” on Wednesday, yielding an estimated $20.1 million five-day total.

Despite the “Bourne”-led opening trio, weekend totals still lagged slightly behind this time last year by approximately 6%.